Prediction of central LN metastasis in PTMC

Central compartment lymph node metastases (LNM) is found in 40 – 60% of patients with Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The standard care for LNM is total thyroidectomy with ‘therapeutic’ cervical lymph node dissection. However whether routine central lymph node dissection should be performed in the PTMC patients without evident LNM remains controversial.

Yang et al, report on their study to determine the factors predictive of central compartment LNM, as well as their attempt to create a nomogram to estimate the probability of central compartment LNM in PTMC. The study population consisted of 291 patients with PTMC who underwent total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection, from June 2007 to December 2010.

Their study identified five statistically significant independent predictive factors for central compartment LNM in PTMC. The normogram developed also provides a  sound basis for the selection of appropriate patients for entry into neck dissection of the central compartment.

Read full article at Yang et al. 2014 Clinical Endocrinology  81 (2) 282 – 288; DOI: 10.1111/cen.12417